FORMER Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to replace under fire Roma coach Luis Enrique next season, according to reports in Portugal.

On several occasions this season Roma have spoken out in support of Enrique, but it seems a run of poor results have sealed the Spaniard's fate.

Roma have lost 14 games this season and are almost certainly out of the race for the third Champions League spot but the club have continued to back Enrique in the face of mounting criticism.

Portuguese news outlet Abola, however, claims Enrique's departure is certain: "Looking for a successor to Enrique, the Italian capital's club has decided to invest in the Portuguese coach [Villas-Boas] to help the club return to the fight for the championship next season."

Villas-Boas was reportedly approached by Roma last season, but his wage demands were too high and, as such, Enrique was enlisted and the Portuguese manager joined forces with Chelsea.

The same article claims that Spanish club Valencia had been in the running for Villas-Boas, but yielded after learning a deal was in place with Roma.

Enrique's future has been the subject of widespread speculation of late and came under more scrutiny after he made cryptic comments before his team's goalless draw with Chievo Verona on Tuesday.

"There are only two possibilities: stay or go," he said. "I know 100 per cent what I'm going to do, but I won't tell you. I haven't even told the team, otherwise the whole world would know a minute later,

Roma have lost 14 games this season and are almost certainly out of the race for the third Champions League spot but the club have continued to back Enrique in the face of mounting criticism.

"The first step is deal with this issue with him, convince him and find out what the real reasons (for him thinking about leaving) for this are," said Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini.

"We want him to be our manager but if it isn't to be we will have to choose someone else."